Call for GM crops to be used to offset rising animal feed costs in EU

GENETICALLY modified crops should be used to offset rising animal feed costs in the EU, thereby reducing consumer prices and easing pressure on struggling pig farmers, says MEP Jim Higgins.

The North West MEP said that the Environment Council should look at the cultivation of GMOs as a viable food source, citing the huge pressure being faced by the pig sector due to rising input costs.

Mr Higgins said: “The monthly feed bill for the Irish sow herd of 150,000 sows was €19 million in January 2010. That fee had risen to €24.7 million by January of this year. A world-wide reduction in cereal output has been blamed for the price hike. One local producer in my north-west constituency suffered a €50,000 rise to the monthly feed bill in the space of six months.”